Welcome to the Department of Social Science!

Traditionally, the social sciences are understood to be those academic fields of study that employ a scientific method to explore social phenomenon. Social Science at York breaks from this narrow tradition to provide students with a progressive, innovative and truly interdisciplinary learning environment.

The Department of Social Science is part of the larger Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies and is currently home to 11 distinctive interdisciplinary degree programs as well as a generalist degree in Social Science. In line with the general mandate of York University, the Department of Social Science is strongly orientated, both in teaching and research, toward issues of social justice and sustainability.

All programs offered through the Department of Social Science reflect a sustained dedication to critical, interdisciplinary approaches to the study of social relations, social structures, social identities and social phenomena. That is to say, our courses and programs ground their analysis of social practices and relations in and across a range of disciplines and fields of study. Offering a variety of degree and certificate options, our interdisciplinary programs include:

While enrolment in some of our courses is restricted to program majors, the Department of Social Science is also committed to the development and delivery of general education courses in the social sciences that all students can take as partial fulfillment of their general education requirements. The interdisciplinary general education courses offered through the Department of Social Science emphasize the cultivation of critical skills (in reading, writing and thinking) that provide students with a firm basis for success in their academic careers.